This book's introduction describes the intended function of a television theme song as the creation of a memorable and tone‐setting opening for a television show. Almost any type of show can have a theme song, though situation comedy and drama have provided the majority of the more memorable examples. Shows that become popular are often remembered and identified by the song and introductory visual content presented at the opening of each episode. An emotional attachment to a favorite show is often associated with the sounds of the show's theme music. Thus, the primary utility of this book seems to be the desire to evoke in the reader nostalgic feelings about old television shows and their related theme songs.
To that end, the book presents entries on 1,000 selected television theme songs. They range from the early days of television (The Honeymooners, Leave it to Beaver), to shows that were still on the air when the book was published (such as The Big Bang Theory and Ghost Hunters). Entries include the title of the show, an explanation of the theme song and a brief description of the show, the years the show was on the air, television network, title of the theme song, names of composers, lyricists and performers, a list of major cast members, and additional details about the song such as awards and other selected trivia. A brief discography of DVD theme song compilations is included, as is a general index which primarily includes personal names and show titles. Closer examination of the index reveals that it does not include the names of a show's principle actors. For example, although Cybill Shepherd is included in the index as a performer (for singing the theme song of the show Cybill), the index does not list her as a star of the show Moonlighting even though the show is included in the book. Including star names would have been a useful addition to the index for those who may, for example, recall the name of the actor, but not the title of the show.
While this book does fulfill its stated goal of fueling nostalgia for memorable television shows and their related theme songs, most of the information it contains is readily available through free websites. There certainly is added value in the judicious selection of the 1,000 songs included. However, that is not enough to recommend this book to all libraries. Instead, I recommend this entertaining compilation for collections with a strong focus on popular music and culture.
